Mildred Cooper Coffey

Mildred (Millie) Coffey, a native Dallasite, was born at home in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas on October 4, 1922 and left this great world on April 27, 2014. She is survived by her loving daughter in law, Cathy Coffey, one cousin Mrs. Mel McGirk of Denison and sister in law Mrs. Edith Coffey of Weatherford. Proceeded in death by her devoted husband of over forty-one years, Bernard M. (Bernie) Coffey, son Wesley J. Coffey; two sisters, Louise Cooper, Mrs. Opie Cooper Warren; one brother, Albert Jesse Cooper; and her parents, Albert James Cooper and Sophia Hogenson Cooper.
Millie attended Stephen J. Hay Elementary School and graduated from North Dallas High School and Draughon's Business College. After two years of short term employment, she spent fourteen years with a Certified Public Accounting Firm followed by thirty-eight years with the various business entities of W. R. Hawn. While enjoying her total of fifty-one years working in downtown Dallas, her favorite duty without a doubt was keeping the records of the Hawn thoroughbred race horses located throughout the world.
Millie and Bernie met at a Square Dance in 1955 and married the following year spending their honeymoon at the National S/D Convention in San Diego. In appreciation for the wholesome happiness Square Dancing brought them, they organized Coffey's College, two and three day events complete with lectures, seminars and ample time for Square and Round dancing. During the formative years of Coffey's College, they often danced six nights a week and Sunday afternoon. These sessions extended from Galveston, Texas to Hutchinson, Kansas, most being sold out a year in advance and attracting up to 500 dancers from three to seven states. With their approval and blessing a European College was started in 1964 in Germany and still exists today in various locations. However due to the health of their parents and the heavy work load involved with all of this done while each held full time jobs, Coffey's College was sold after twenty-eight years. Their love of Square Dancing never diminished. Millie and the entire Cooper family were long time members of Greenville Avenue Christian Church where she had taught Classes for High School credit in the DISD. She remained actively involved for many years working on the Church annual Reunions. She moved to Garland for health reasons in 1998. She joined the First Christian Church in Garland in 1999 and has been an active member of the Ruth Mix class.
Scouting was a vital part of the Coffey's busy family life. Becoming involved with the Boy Scouts of America when Wesley became of age, she received her 40 year recognition in the spring of 2009. (This was short of Bernie's 70 years of recognition.) With the loss of her husband and son (both Eagle Scouts) she has remained active in the Circle Ten Council and has always been grateful for the pleasure and enrichment of their many Scouting experiences and life-long friends made. She attended three training sessions at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and two at the Scout Sea Base in the Florida Keys. She has completed her Doctorate in the College of Commissioner Science and is the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, Wood Badge trained and charter member of the Silver Scouters.
Millie Coffey and her friends enjoyed their volunteer involvement each evening after work which was intensified during WW II by being active in five different divisions of the American Red Cross, showing movies on the T. B. wards at the Veterans Hospital in McKinney and also volunteering at Baylor University Medical Center.
She was a charter member of the unique and special Red Bird Singers. The bond of friendship within this group ran deep and she treasured the fourteen years with them until moving to Garland.
For five years she served as secretary to the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Cockrell Hill and was a two year member of the Park Planning and Beautification Committee there. A member of the Dallas Genealogical Society, North Dallas High School Alumni Association, Coffey Cousins Clearinghouse, Cockrell Hill Reunion Group, Dallas County Pioneer Association and Garland Senior Center Activity programs. Before moving to Garland she treasured membership in the Lecture Luncheon and Top O'The Cliff Club.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday May 1, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church of Garland. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle Ten Council, B.S.A. 8605 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75235 or First Christian Church, Garland 115 South Glenbrook Drive, Garland, Texas 75040 or the charity of your choice.